Rotation Still a Question Mark

It hasn’t been a good month for the Dodger rotation, which has a 5.86 earned-run average in September.

The struggling group’s performance has stirred concern from the executive offices to the clubhouse at Chavez Ravine, but the Dodgers said they were keeping the faith because the starters had exceeded expectations until recently.

“These guys have been great for us all year, and they’ve really carried us at times,” Shawn Green said. “It’s a long season and you’re going to have ups and downs, but everyone has a lot of confidence in our starters.

“If we’re going to get to where we want to go, those guys are going to help us get there. We’re definitely behind them.”

Of course, it’s not as if the Dodgers have many alternatives to a rotation of Jeff Weaver, Odalis Perez, Jose Lima, Hideo Nomo and Wilson Alvarez. Kazuhisa Ishii has been demoted to the bullpen because of his erratic performance, and rookie Edwin Jackson has struggled with his command and velocity.

“It all goes in spells,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “I have confidence in all our starters, all our pitchers, and I’m confident we’ll get back” to pitching well.

The Dodgers remain hopeful Brad Penny could be the playoff ace they envisioned when General Manager Paul DePodesta made the trade to acquire the right-hander from the Florida Marlins.

Penny threw 55 pitches Tuesday in live batting practice, facing hitters for the first time since he sprinted from the mound in pain Aug. 8 because of a nerve problem in his pitching arm, but the Dodgers have not determined Penny’s status for the remainder of the regular season.

“We need him,” third baseman Adrian Beltre said. “Penny is a guy who could be an ace for us with the kind of stuff he has.

“He’s been to the playoffs, he’s a tough pitcher and we would be better if he was healthy. We know that.”